health


PPE supply for care workers was 'inadequate' 24/11/2020 The social care sector was ‘left to fend for itself’ during the darkest days of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to an investigation into supplies of personal protective equipment (PPE).
Tougher tier system unveiled under COVID Winter Plan 24/11/2020 Every area of England will be placed into a tougher tier-system under the Government’s COVID Winter Plan, the prime minister has announced.
First mass testing programme rolled out in Wales 23/11/2020 Wales’s first COVID-19 mass testing programme is being rolled out in Merthyr Tydfil Borough.
Council chiefs call for ‘greater local oversight’ of test and trace 20/11/2020 Local authority leaders have called for ‘greater local oversight and involvement’ when it comes to COVID-19 testing and tracing.
Derby council ‘delighted’ arena to be COVID-19 vaccination centre 20/11/2020 The leader of Derby City Council has welcomed the decision to consider making Derby Arena a temporary COVID-19 vaccination centre.
COVID-19 testing pilot for care homes launched 16/11/2020 The Government has announced a new pilot that will see friends and family members of some care home residents in Hampshire, Cornwall and Devon offered regular COVID-19 tests.
Councils bid for vaccine role 16/11/2020 Councils have made a bid to play a key role in distributing the new coronavirus vaccine.
People with learning disabilities six times more likely to die from COVID-19 13/11/2020 People with a learning disability were up to six times more likely to die from COVID-19 in the first wave of the pandemic than the general population, a report has found.
Commission calls for action to reduce mental health inequalities 12/11/2020 The coronavirus pandemic has highlighted existing inequalities in mental health, a new report has warned.
Think tank calls for new health and social care tax 11/11/2020 A new health and social care tax raising £17bn should be the centrepiece of sweeping tax increases to raise £40bn a year, according to a new report from think-tank the Resolution Foundation.
More than 50 councils to receive rapid COVID-19 tests 10/11/2020 More than half a million rapid COVID-19 tests will be sent to public health authorities this week as part of Government plans to roll-out mass testing for the virus.
Councils call for clear lockdown exit strategy 04/11/2020 The Government has been urged to work with councils to develop a clear lockdown exit strategy by the Local Government Association (LGA).
HIV diagnoses in gay and bisexual men at ‘lowest point’ in 20 years 04/11/2020 The number of gay and bisexual men with newly diagnosed HIV has fallen to the lowest point in two decades, according to public health experts.
Liverpool to pilot mass coronavirus testing 03/11/2020 The first pilot of whole city testing for COVID-19 is to be carried out in Liverpool.
Government needs a plan to tackle public service backlog, says IfG 02/11/2020 The Government needs a plan to address backlogs in public services caused by the coronavirus crisis, a new report has claimed.
Nottinghamshire faces tougher Tier 3 lockdown measures 29/10/2020 The whole of Nottinghamshire will be placed under the toughest coronavirus restrictions from midnight Friday after a deal was reached between the Government and all nine local councils.
Baroness Lawrence calls for urgent action to tackle structural racial inequalities 27/10/2020 Structural racism meant Black, Asian and minority ethnic people were disproportionately affected by the COVID pandemic, a new review has warned.
Nearly 80 health groups join forces to press the Government to tackle health inequalities 26/10/2020 A coalition of nearly 80 organisations has been launched in order to pressure the Government into tackling health inequalities.
Wales to introduce coronavirus 'firebreak' 20/10/2020 A two-week 'firebreak' will be introduced in Wales this Friday to help slow the spread of coronavirus.
COVID 'magnifying' health and care inequalities 16/10/2020 The coronavirus pandemic has ‘exacerbated’ existing problems in social care and magnified health inequalities, a report has warned today.
Starmer calls for ‘circuit-breaker’ lockdown 14/10/2020 Labour leader Keir Starmer has urged the Government to follow the advice of their scientific advisers and bring in a short lockdown of two or three weeks to slow the spread of COVID-19.
PM pledges extra £1bn for local government amid three-tier system 12/10/2020 Boris Johnson has announced a further £1bn in funding for local government as the country heads into the second wave of COVID-19.
Cold and damp homes putting millions more at risk of COVID-19, report warns 22/09/2020 Millions of people living in cold and damp homes could be more at risk of contracting coronavirus this winter, a new report has warned.
Report highlights impact of 'broken' food system 21/09/2020 There has been little progress in mending the 'broken' food system over the past three years, a report has warned today.
New parents asked to answer questionnaire on early years’ development 18/09/2020 New parents and health service professionals are being asked to contribute to a Government review on ways to improve the healthy development of infants.
Welsh sport and leisure sector welcomes £14m recovery funding 17/09/2020 The Welsh government has announced a £14m funding package to support Wales’ sport and leisure sector during the Covid-19 lockdown.
Parents call on councils to improve school air quality 15/09/2020 Parents call on councils to improve air quality as research suggests 50% reduction in pollution could halve number of children?with?poor lung function.
Care home providers warned of Covid-19 rise 14/09/2020 Department of Health & Social Care has written to care home providers in England warning them of the risk of a rise in coronavirus cases in the care sector.
Download forthcoming NHS Covid app, council chiefs say 14/09/2020 Local authority leaders have urged everyone to download the forthcoming NHS Covid-19 app once it is available as fears of a second wave of coronavirus rise.
Councils welcome decision not to ease restrictions in Trafford and Bolton 03/09/2020 Lockdown restrictions will remain in place in Bolton and Trafford following a request from council leaders.
New scheme to support self-isolating workers does not go ‘far enough’, Burnham says 27/08/2020 Mayor Andy Burnham has criticised the Government’s announcement of a new payment for people who are self-isolating, arguing it ‘goes nowhere near far enough’.
Local authorities struggling to enforce rules on chemical safety 24/08/2020 Councils unable to enforce rules on chemical safety as new research shows one in four products tested contain dangerous levels of hazardous chemicals.
Fifth of care homes took on Covid patients, survey reveals 24/08/2020 One in five care homes had to accept patients discharged from hospital who had tested positive for COVID-19 during the early part of the pandemic, a survey has found.
Government announces nearly £600m to help people return home from hospital 24/08/2020 People needing care after being discharged from hospital will be supported by a £588m fund to cover social care or costs of care at home, Government says.
Council chiefs warn of ‘surge’ of post-lockdown dental treatments 24/08/2020 Local authority leaders have warned of a potential post-coronavirus surge of dental treatments following the lifting of lockdown.
Hancock under pressure on anti-obesity plans following PHE closure 24/08/2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock is under growing pressure today to say who will take responsibility for the national fight against obesity following his decision to close down Public Health England (PHE).
Government announces £3m fund to support babies from deprived or BAME backgrounds 21/08/2020 The Government has announced a new £3.3m fund to give babies from deprived areas or BAME backgrounds the best start in life.
West Midlands councils warn they are at a ‘crossroads’ in fight against Covid-19 21/08/2020 Seven West Midlands councils have called for support to ensure that Covid-19 testing is widely available as the Birmingham CC warns they are ‘at a crossroads’.
Government announces ‘legally binding targets’ to tackle climate change 19/08/2020 The Government has set out a series of legally binding targets under the Environment Bill to combat climate change.
Council chiefs urge parents to ensure vaccinations are ‘up to date’ 17/08/2020 Local authorities are urging parents, families and guardians to contact their local GP, school or health centre to make sure their children’s vaccinations are up to date.
Government announces £5m for COVID-19 ‘social prescribing’ 17/08/2020 The National Academy for Social Prescribing (NASP) has been awarded £5m to help people stay connected and maintain their health and wellbeing following the COVID-19 pandemic.
Lockdown restrictions extended in northern England 17/08/2020 Restrictions to stop the spread of COVID-19 have been extended in parts of the North West, West Yorkshire, East Lancashire and Leicester after the number of infections failed to drop.
Councils to pilot new NHS Test and Trace app 14/08/2020 The Isle of Wight Council and Newham Council are trialling the revamped NHS Test and Trace app.
COVID-19 test reveals 6% of population infected by mid-July 13/08/2020 The first report from the world’s largest home antibody testing programme tracking COVID-19 in England has found 6% of the population is infected with coronavirus.
Demand could overwhelm mental health services, report warns 12/08/2020 People with mental health issues are at risk of not getting the support they need due to increasing demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic, a report has warned today.
Public back investment for ‘15-minute’ communities 07/08/2020 There is a growing trend to create '15-minute communities' through investment in public health, green infrastructure and town centres, a new survey has revealed.
Progress on health and social care pledges to be rated under new system 05/08/2020 The Government's progress on health and social care pledges will be evaluated under a new rating system, the Health and Social Care Committee has announced.
Council launches local test and trace system 05/08/2020 Blackburn with Darwen Council has launched a local coronavirus tracing system in partnership with Public Health England.
'Breathable billboard' unveiled as part of air quality campaign 31/07/2020 A 'breathable billboard' has been launched to help encourage local authorities to tackle air pollution as part of the COVID-19 recovery strategy.
Hancock's new rules to halt COVID spread 31/07/2020 New rules on social gatherings have been introduced in Northern England as the number of COVID cases has started to rise.
National Food Strategy calls for more free school meals 29/07/2020 Free school dinners should be extended to every child where their parent or guardian is receiving Universal Credit, a report has recommended today.
Continuing down the path to hepatitis C elimination 28/07/2020 Rachel Halford explains how multi-agency partnership working during the pandemic has helped to test and treat people for the hepatitis C virus.
New design toolkit to create 'healthy housing' 24/07/2020 New design guidance to ensure housing developments create healthier communities has been launched.
Millions more people to be offered free flu vaccine 24/07/2020 More than 30 million people in England will be offered a free flu vaccination in a bid to ease the pressure on the NHS this winter.
Luton takes steps to avoid a local lockdown 23/07/2020 Luton Borough Council has urged residents to get tested for coronavirus after a rise in infections rates in the area.
Hancock announces plans to share more data 20/07/2020 Health secretary Matt Hancock has announced plans to share more data with local government in a bid to help track and trace COVID-19 cases more effectively.
Leisure centres under threat, warn councils 20/07/2020 Hundreds of leisure facilities are under ‘immediate threat of closure’ due to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, English and Welsh councils have warned ministers.
Leicester mayor ‘frustrated’ by extended lockdown 17/07/2020 The Government has been accused of taking a ‘sledgehammer approach’ to the local lockdown of Leicester by mayor Sir Peter Soulsby.
PM announces new powers for local lockdown 17/07/2020 Councils will get new powers to shut down premises in a bid to control the spread of coronavirus as we head towards the next phase of the pandemic, the Prime Minister has announced.
Blackburn with Darwen announces new local measures to control virus 15/07/2020 Blackburn with Darwen Council has introduced five new local measures to control the spread of coronavirus, including wearing masks in all enclosed public spaces.
Government 'failed to prepare' on PPE, say MPs 08/07/2020 The Government has failed to ensure there is enough personal protective equipment (PPE) in the event of a second wave of coronavirus, a watchdog has warned today.
Less than one in seven people are now smokers, data reveals 08/07/2020 The number of smokers in the UK has fallen from 14.7% in 2018 to 14.1% in 2019, according to official figures.
Call for £5.5bn to level up access to urban green spaces 07/07/2020 The prime minister has been urged to invest £5.5bn to 'level up' access to urban green spaces by a coalition of councils, city leaders and charities.
Local public health teams should manage contact tracing, poll reveals 02/07/2020 Two-thirds of the public want local public health teams to be in charge of the contact tracing system, a new poll has revealed.
Parks are a 'smart investment' argues new report 24/06/2020 Parks save the health service over £2bn a year making them a ‘smart investment’, according to the Parks Alliance (TPA).
Hand health powers to elected mayors, says report 23/06/2020 Health powers should be handed to elected mayors as part of a ‘rejuvenated and fortified wave of devolution,’ a think-tank report has suggested.
Saliva coronavirus test to be trialled in Southampton 22/06/2020 Southampton City Council will be piloting a new ‘no-swab’ saliva test for coronavirus.
Khan calls for face masks to be mandatory 19/06/2020 Mayor of London yesterday called on the Government to make the wearing of face coverings mandatory for customers in shops and other confined public spaces.
Councils call for clarity on local lockdowns 16/06/2020 Councils this week called for clarity on the legal powers they will have if they are forced to implement local coronavirus lockdowns.
Campaigners call for details on reopening playgrounds 04/06/2020 The Government has been urged to invest £100m in play provision to avoid a ‘catastrophic’ impact on children’s health by the Association of Play Industries (API).
Why recovery will bring a new healthcare estate 03/06/2020 Gareth Banks explains why Covid-19 will create a new impetus to revise healthcare estates and build a health infrastructure that can support new demands.
Contact tracing app could leave ‘many behind’ charity warns 03/06/2020 The government's contact tracing app could exacerbate existing health inequalities, a charity has warned today.
Alliance calls to extend gambling harm protections after lockdown 02/06/2020 Measures to protect people from gambling harm should be extended beyond the lockdown, the Gambling Health Alliance (GHA) has said.
Betts calls for clarity on local outbreak control plans 02/06/2020 Councils need more clarity on the role they will play in devising local outbreak control plans, the chair of the Housing, Communities and Local Government Committee has said.
Pan-London partnership for PPE launched 19/05/2020 A new pan-London partnership has been established to provide personal protective equipment or care homes and other frontline services.
Johnson announces £600m for infection control in care homes 14/05/2020 Councils have welcomed the £600m extra funding for infection control within care homes.
North West mayors call for regional data on Covid-19 infection rates 13/05/2020 Two mayors have called on the Government to publish a regional breakdown of the 'R' infection rate for coronavirus.
Leeds chief takes on key contract tracing role 13/05/2020 Leeds City Council chief executive Tom Riordan will take on a key role in the Government’s contact tracing programme in the battle against coronavirus.
Councils urge people to avoid tourist hotspots 12/05/2020 Council leaders and tourism bodies have warned that local residents could be put at risk if people flock to tourist hotspots now the lockdown restrictions have been eased.
Over one million food boxes delivered to clinically vulnerable 07/05/2020 Local authorities have helped deliver more than one million food boxes to the most clinically vulnerable.
Researchers propose a two-tier approach to ending lockdown 06/05/2020 The UK should adopt a twin approach to relaxing restrictions for lockdown in order to protect the most vulnerable, academics have said.
Two councils join forces to address health inequalities 06/05/2020 Two councils have joined together to tackle health inequalities affecting Black African and Caribbean communities.
Only 22% of social care workers have been able to access Covid-19 testing 06/05/2020 Less than a quarter of social care workers have been able to access testing for Covid-19, a new survey has revealed.
Vulnerable people struggling to access food, watchdog warns 05/05/2020 Vulnerable people are still struggling to access food and basic supplies during the pandemic, a consumer watchdog has warned today.
Council staff to test contact-tracing app on the Isle of Wight 05/05/2020 Council staff on the Isle of Wight will be the first to test a new contact tracing app to help control the spread of coronavirus.
Deprived areas see twice as many deaths from Covid-19 01/05/2020 The most deprived areas have experienced twice as many deaths from Covid-19 than the least deprived, new figures show.
Coronavirus testing extended to frontline council staff 24/04/2020 Council staff with symptoms of Covid-19 will be able to get tested for the virus, the Government has announced.
Coronavirus testing to be rolled out across social care sector 15/04/2020 The Government has pledged to offer testing for coronavirus to all social care staff and care home residents.
Officials warn coronavirus impact could trigger measles outbreak 15/04/2020 The UK is at risk of a measles outbreak if routine vaccinations are delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic, the Measles & Rubella Initiative has warned.
Spike in deaths led to fears of care homes crisis 14/04/2020 A huge spike in the number of UK deaths has led to fears the pandemic is rife in care homes.
Testing to be rolled out to care workers 09/04/2020 Coronavirus testing could soon be rolled out to care home workers, MPs have been told.
Study questions impact of closing schools to contain coronavirus 08/04/2020 School closures have not had a ‘significant effect’ on preventing the spread of coronavirus, a new study has revealed.
Counties voice concern over capacity of community pharmacies 07/04/2020 County councils have warned that local pharmacies could struggle to deliver medicine in rural and remote locations.
Charity warns of ‘unacceptable decline in life expectancy’ in poor areas 27/03/2020 A health charity has warned that even before the current pandemic the UK was experiencing a decline in life expectancy in the poorer parts of the country.
Hotels supporting key workers and homeless to stay open 26/03/2020 Hotels, hostels and B&Bs supporting key workers and vulnerable people are to remain open as part of the effort to contain the coronavirus.
‘Social care needs you’, retired care workers told 26/03/2020 Council chiefs urge retired care workers to return to work in order to boost an over-stretched social care workforce in the face of the ongoing pandemic.
Social workers ‘urgently’ need hand sanitizer, survey reveals 25/03/2020 Social workers have called on the Government to provide them with safety equipment in order to minimize the risk of contracting and spreading the coronavirus.
Charity says it ‘defies belief’ that renters evicted during a pandemic 24/03/2020 Shelter has warned that legislation to suspend new eviction cases during the coronavirus pandemic does not go far enough as 20,000 evictions set to go ahead.
Scottish council chiefs welcome extra social care support 24/03/2020 Local authority leaders have welcomed the Scottish government’s commitment to give extra support to councils to support social care in the face of Covid-19.
Government issues guidance on isolation for residential educational settings 23/03/2020 Social workers who need to investigate child protection concerns should be admitted to the home while taking infection control measures, according to guidance.

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Future affordable housing must deliver big on space

Local authorities are under pressure to deliver more affordable housing but while the focus is largely on quantity, this shouldn’t come at the expense of quality, writes Jonathan Pearson.

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Public Property

This issue of Public Property examines how how flexible workspaces can lead the way in regeneration for local authorities, Why local authority intervention is key to successful urban regeneration schemes and if the Government’s challenge of embracing beauty is an opportunity for communities.

The March issue also takes a closer look at Blackburn with Darwen Council's first digital health hub to help people gain control over health and care services.